System and method for set-top-box messaging display

ABSTRACT

In a set-top-box system, messages from a service provider are stored and delayed until activity from a set-top-box remote is detected. Messages are then generated and provided to a television associated with the set-top-box. Delaying of the message display until set-top-box activity is detected allows short display times, thus preventing burn-in on some television screens, while providing a greater likelihood that messages will be viewed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates to set-top-boxes for providing display signalsto displays such as televisions and the like. In particular, thedisclosure relates to providing messages, e.g. service messages from aservice provider, from a set-top-box to a television.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most of the recent generation of cable TV deployments utilize televisionset-top boxes that are also capable of receiving targeted text messagesfrom the provider that are then displayed on the screens of thetelevisions associated with the boxes on the identified accounts.

An existing facility that incorporates on-screen messaging, and in manysystems the only targeted on-screen messaging service in use, is thedisplay of the Caller ID of incoming telephone calls to the cablecompany-provided telephone service usually associated with the sameaccount. This application displays information for a very short time,typically less than a minute, and is not critical if it is not viewed,if the television is not turned on, or the viewer is not watching forany reason.

Other TV screen-based communications from the providers to theirsubscribers can be useful but, in most cases, these messages would bemore critical and, to be assured of being viewed, would be displayeduntil the customer responds through a remote control action. Suchmessaging includes targeted and scheduled communications for customercare information, announcements of planned maintenance outages,announcements of new services that apply to the particular plan intowhich targeted accounts are enrolled, problems associated with theaccount (billing, etc.), and more.

The open loop arrangement by which the set-top box and associatedtelevision are interconnected (the set top box frequently has no signalthat the television is powered off or has its input switched to anothersource such as a DVD player) causes a significant problem in the use ofset-top box messaging for several critical situations. The televisionmay be turned off or switched to another source and the to-be-displayedmessage from the set-top box will be presented to the unresponsivetelevision and, therefore, will not be viewed. Alternatively, thetelevision may be turned on and switched to the set-top box source butunwatched for, perhaps many hours, leaving the message unviewed.

Long term display of fixed information, such as text messages on thescreen, will, in many types of televisions, cause burn-in where the textarea becomes diminished in brightness for normal images and discoloredand visible when the set is turned off. Consequently, the image cannotbe left displayed for any significant length of time.

The set-top box remote control functions typically permit the viewer tocancel displayed messages. Thus, the message cannot remain displayed forvery long while awaiting the viewer's response. When multiple messagesare due for viewing by the targeted subscriber, the problem iscompounded.

The above described problems have been recognized. Current solutionsinclude a “message light”, an indicator that is located on the set-topbox, itself. The subscriber then has an activation sequence on theremote control that will force the message onto the screen for viewing,that is, if the indicator is noticed and the remote control activated.The subscriber can re-activate the message viewing if the indicatorremains on after viewing the first message in order to access additionalmessages. The deactivation of the display can be used as anacknowledgement that the message has been read.

Message flags implemented as indicators on set-top boxes are easilyoverlooked. Set-top boxes are often not oriented so that the indicatoris visible. Cable subscribers often are not aware of the meaning of thisadditional indicator on the front panel of the set-top box.

What is required is an improved system and method for set-top-boxmessaging display.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a method forproviding display of set-top-box messages onto a display. The methodcomprises receiving at least one message to be displayed into aset-top-box and detecting activity of a remote associated with theset-top-box. The at least one message is provided to the display inresponse to the remote activity.

In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a set-top-boxcomprising at least one memory, a remote interface and at least oneprocessor. The memory stores message content from a service provider.The remote interface receives control signals from at least one remote.The processor generates a display message comprising the message contentand provides the display message to a television. The display message isprovided to the television in response to detection of remote activityat the remote interface.

In one aspect of the disclosure, there is provided a computer-readablemedium comprising computer-executable instructions for execution by aprocessor, that, when executed, cause the processor to detect activityfrom a set-top-box remote, generate a display message in response to thedetected remote activity, and provide the display message to atelevision.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described, by way of example only, withreference to specific embodiments and to the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a cable service system;

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart for providing set-top-box messages; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a processor and memory executing an instruction set.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In FIG. 1, there is shown a cable service 10 including a cable serviceprovider 12 providing cable service through a cable 13 to a subscriberpremises 14. A set-top-box 16 at the subscriber premises 14 decodessignals from the cable service provider 12 for providing to a display18, such as a television, digital projector, etc. A remote 19 is usedfor controlling the television 18 and set-top-box 16. While a singleremote 19 is shown, a person skilled in the art will readily understandthat separate remotes may be provided for each of the set-top-box 16 andtelevision 18 as well as peripheral devices (not shown) such as DVDplayers, hard disk drive (HDD) recorders etc.

The set-top-box 16 includes a remote interface 21 for receiving controlsignals from the remote 19. The set-top-box also includes a processor 22and memory 23.

A method for providing on-screen display of set-top-box messages in thecable service 10 will now be described with additional reference to theflowchart 100 of FIG. 2. At step 101, a message for display on thedisplay screen 18 is received into the set-top-box 16 from the serviceprovider 12. At step 102, manual activity of a remote associated withthe set-top-box is detected, in response to which, the set-top-box 16causes display of the message 25 on the display screen 18 (step 103).

The processor 22 and memory 23 are shown in more detail in FIG. 3. Thememory 23 may include a read-only memory (ROM) that stores programinstructions executable by the processor 22. The memory 23 may alsoinclude a random access memory (RAM) that may store message contentreceived into the set-top-box 16 from the service provider 12 while theset-top-box 16 is awaiting activity from the remote 19. In oneembodiment, the program instructions may include an instruction set 200that causes the processor to detect activity from the remote (step 201),generate a display message (step 202), e.g. by retrieving messagecontent from the memory 23 and then provide the display message to thetelevision (step 203).

The detection of activity of the remote control for set-top boxfunctions is a significant indicator that a viewer is watching thescreen of a powered-on television with the set-top box as the videosource. A temporary on-screen display of a set-top-box-generated messageis invoked upon detecting manual activity of the remote control for theset-top-box functions.

In one embodiment, the set-top-box may be configured to control thedisplay period of a message. For example, the set-top-box may cause thedisplay of the message until it is acknowledged by an intentional remotecontrol action or until a maximum time period has elapsed. The maximumtime period may be chosen to prevent burn-in of the message on thedisplay. In one embodiment, the set-top-box may cause the message to bedisplayed periodically until the acknowledgement is received. If themessage is not acknowledged within a predetermined period of time, e.g.60 seconds, the message will disappear and then redisplay after anotherperiod of time, e.g. 2 minutes, and after subsequent activity of theremote control. The message may thus continually reappear until it isacknowledged or until a validity period for the message has expired.Requiring the message to be manually acknowledged will increase thelikelihood that it will be read and understood.

In the case that multiple messages are intended for display, themessages can be displayed in sequence or in an order determined by apriority. Priority may be indicated by the service provider, with theorder of equal priority messages being determined by the order in whichthe messages are received into the set-top-box.

The time for which a message is displayed, in particular without useracknowledgement, is chosen to be long enough that it may gain theattention of the viewer but short enough as to not cause burn-inproblems with the screen. The short display time of the messagesdecreases the probability that the viewer will be irritated, yet servesto ensure that important notifications are properly viewed. In oneembodiment, the message is displayed for between approximately 30seconds and 3 minutes or until user acknowledgement is received throughremote 19.

The content of the message may inform the viewer of the actions requiredand the behavior of the redisplay.

In one embodiment, the display of the message may not necessarily occurimmediately upon remote control activity but may be more conspicuous ifdelayed some seconds after remote control activity has been quiescent.Thus, the processor 22 may detect a period of quiescence of the remoteinterface after an initial activity period and only after the remote hasbeen inactive for a period, e.g. 5 seconds, does the processor 22provide the display message to the display.

In one embodiment, the activity-triggered display of generated messagescan be combined with time-of-day parameters to target different classesof family members. Highly critical messages can be targeted to allset-top boxes in an account.

In one embodiment, highly critical messages can be redisplayedrepeatedly until a code is entered that may only be accessible by theaccount holder such as the account number from the monthly bill or thelast four digits of a shared number such as a credit card.

The embodiments described herein provide advantage by being able toovercome the problems associated with the current mechanismsspecifically in the area of immediacy of visibility combined withprotection of television screens from “burn in” phenomena.

The described methods overcome the problems of inconspicuous on-boxindicators by causing on-screen display of messages without burn-inproblems by invoking a temporary display only upon any activity of theremote control for the set-top box and by sequencing through multiplemessages, if any, as long as activity continues on the remote control.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated inthe accompanied drawings and described in the foregoing description, itwill be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodimentsdisclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, andsubstitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as setforth and defined by the following claims. For example, the capabilitiesof the invention can be performed fully and/or partially by one or moreof the blocks, modules, processors or memories. Also, these capabilitiesmay be performed in the current manner or in a distributed manner andon, or via, any device able to provide and/or receive information.Further, although depicted in a particular manner, various modules orblocks may be repositioned without departing from the scope of thecurrent invention. Still further, although depicted in a particularmanner, a greater or lesser number of modules and connections can beutilized with the present invention in order to accomplish the presentinvention, to provide additional known features to the presentinvention, and/or to make the present invention more efficient. Also,the information sent between various modules can be sent between themodules via at least one of a data network, the Internet, an InternetProtocol network, a wireless source, and a wired source and viaplurality of protocols.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: providing a plurality ofmessages to a display in response to detected remote activity of aremote associated with a set-top box and after a period of quiescence ofa remote interface that begins after a detected initial activity of theremote and continuing for a predefined period of time after the detectedinitial remote activity has ended, wherein at least one message having ahigher message priority than the other of the plurality of messages isdisplayed before the other of the plurality of the messages; andperiodically providing the at least one of the plurality of messages tothe display for a first time period, and removing the at least one ofthe plurality of messages from the display for a second time periodwhich is a longer time than the first time period, until additionalactivity of the remote is detected and an acknowledgement signal isreceived in the set-top-box from the remote.
 2. The method of claim 1,further comprising detecting activity of the remote by receiving asignal from the remote in the set-top-box.
 3. The method of claim 1wherein, the signal comprises a control signal for at least oneset-top-box function.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprisingreceiving the plurality of messages in a memory of the set-top-box. 5.The method of claim 1, wherein a sequence of the plurality of messagesis designated by a service provider.
 6. The method of claim 5, whereinthe plurality of messages are received from the service provider.
 7. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising storing the plurality of messagesin the memory of a set-top-box until activity of the remote is detected.8. The method of claim 1, wherein content of at least one of theplurality of messages displayed comprises actions required.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein a sequence of the plurality of messages isdetermined by an order in which the plurality of messages are receivedinto the set-top-box.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprisingestablishing the first time period during which at least one of theplurality of messages are displayed and the second time period duringwhich the at least one of the plurality of messages are removed frombeing displayed.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the least onemessage is redisplayed until a confirmation code is received indicatingthe at least one message has been acknowledged.
 12. A set-top-box,comprising: a remote interface that receives control signals from atleast one remote; and at least one processor that: provides a pluralityof messages to a display in response to detected remote activity of aremote associated with a set-top-box, and after a period of quiescenceof a remote interface that begins after a detected initial activityperiod of the remote and continuing for a predefined period of timeafter the detected initial remote activity has ended, wherein at leastone message having a higher message priority than the other of theplurality of messages is displayed before the other of the plurality ofthe messages; and periodically provides the at least one of theplurality of messages to the display for a first time period and removesthe at least one of the plurality of messages from the display for asecond time period which is a longer time than the first time period,until additional activity of the remote is detected and anacknowledgement signal is received in the set-top-box from the remote.13. The set-top-box of claim 12, wherein a memory stores message contentuntil activity of the at least one remote is detected.
 14. Theset-top-box of claim 12, wherein the at least one processor provides theplurality of messages to the display.
 15. The set-top-box of claim 12,wherein the at least one processor establishes the first time periodduring which at least one of the plurality of messages are displayed andthe second time period during which the at least one of the plurality ofmessages are removed from being displayed.
 16. The set-top-box of claim12, wherein content of at least one of the plurality of messagesdisplayed comprises actions required.
 17. A non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executableinstructions for execution by a processor, that, when executed, causethe processor to: provide a plurality of messages to a display inresponse to detected remote activity of a remote associated with aset-top-box, and after a period of quiescence of a remote interface thatbegins after a detected initial activity period of the remote andcontinuing for a predefined period of time after the detected initialremote activity has ended, wherein at least one message having a highermessage priority than the other of the plurality of messages isdisplayed before the other of the plurality of the messages; andperiodically provide the at least one of the plurality of messages tothe display for a first time period and remove the at least one of theplurality of messages from the display for a second time period which isa longer time than the first time period, until additional activity ofthe remote is detected and an acknowledgement signal is received in theset-top-box from the remote.
 18. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 17 comprising computer-executable instructionsfor execution by the processor, that, when executed, cause the processorto store the plurality of messages in a memory of the set-top-box untilthe remote activity of the remote is detected.
 19. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 17 comprisingcomputer-executable instructions for execution by the processor, that,when executed, cause the processor to establish a first time periodduring which at least one of the plurality of messages are displayed anda second time period during which the at least one of the plurality ofmessages are removed from being displayed.
 20. The non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein content of atleast one message of the plurality of messages displayed comprisesactions required.